A quantitative analysis of socioeconomics of illicit drug use for improving targeted interventions in Hong Kong
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A quantitative analysis of socioeconomics of illicit drug use for improving targeted interventions in Hong Kong Tong Liu1 · Stuart Gietel‑Basten2 Received: 8 May 2020 / Accepted: 1 August 2020 © China Population and Development Research 2020
Abstract Illicit drug use is a critical and challenging issue globally, but there is a lack of thorough understanding of the underlying mechanisms of drug use, which is essential for policy interventions, in many threatened places. This study aims to explore the socioeconomic determinants of drug use to support policy design in Hong Kong and other regions with similar issues. Multiple linear regression models and fixed-effects models are employed to examine the socioeconomic determinants of drug use based on the most comprehensive data on drug use and population in Hong Kong from 1991 to 2016. The estimates show that demographic and socioeconomic characteristics are important predictors of illicit drug use. The highest rate of drug use is observed for people aged between 20 and 30, as well as for those with primary education. Compared with males, the female drug use rate is 15 (or 46) per 10,000 people lower for the newly (or previously) addicted cases. A 10% increase in monthly income is associated with a 14% drop in drug use rate at the district level. The average annual expenditure on drug use is USD 32.6 million in Hong Kong. Drug policies shall pay more attention to these at-risk groups, and shall consider more financial support to lower the drug use rates. Keywords Drug use · Substance use · Illicit drug · Demography · Population ageing · Hong Kong
* Tong Liu [email protected] 1
Division of Social Science and Institute for Advanced Study, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong
2
Division of Social Science and Division of Public Policy, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong
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T. Liu, S. Gietel‑Basten
1 Introduction Illicit drug use imposes substantial costs on the individuals and society, including health damages, labor and wage losses, drug-related violence and crimes, widely in both developed and developing countries (Deykin et al. 1987; Dobkin and Nicosia 2009; Lin 2010; Liu et al. 2006; Martikainen et al. 2018; McGrath and Chan 2005; Nutt et al. 2007; Shek et al. 2011; Smith et al. 2019). Tackling drug use is universally challenging due to addiction and huge profits of drug supply. Recently, there is a growing trend in drug production in regions such as Golden Triangle in Southeast Asia,1 and recreational drug use is decriminalized in parts of North America,2 potentially affecting a large population worldwide. A clear and up-to-date understanding of drug use patterns and changes by subpopulation is critical for health and social care policy targeted at reducing drug use and catering for varying needs of different groups (Arat et al. 2016; Botvin 2000; Chein et al. 1964; McHugh et al. 2015; Pollack et al. 2002; Quinn 2010). An ext
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